Philadelphia Police Athletic League
The Police Athletic League is “Cops Helping Kids,” and PAL is committed to serving youth, reducing crime, promoting character development, and improving educational outcomes. Philadelphia Police Officers, supported by civilians, offer sports and other programs to youth in PAL Centers in some of the city’s highest crime and lowest income neighborhoods. PAL Centers are safe havens, offering a variety of programs and other events to attract, engage, and develop an active membership base of more than 10,000 Philadelphia youth. During the pandemic, PAL adjusted operations to serve cohorts of youth for optimal health and safety conditions. Especially with online schooling, an increase in violent crime, and the ongoing effects of the virus hitting these communities hardest, youth needed an in-person outlet in the after-school hours in the safety of PAL’s Centers.